New documents suggest suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was living higher-off-the-hog than previously thought. The new allegations have surfaced less than a week before Paxton's impeachment trial.
The Associated Press says it has reviewed records and legal filings that show investigators are looking into unexplained carribean and European trips by Paxton that cost Texas taxpayers more than $90,000.
The AP says last year, Paxton's extravagant lifestyle included more international trips than Texas' Governor and Lieutenant Governor made combined, including a previously unreported visit to Qatar to watch the World Cup.
"He always cared about what trip he was going on, who was taking him to dinner," James Blake Brickman, one of Paxton's former deputies, told investigators leading the impeachment in March, according to a transcript obtained by the Associated Press.
"He likes the perks of the office," Brickman said.
Spokespersons for Paxton and the attorney general's office did not respond to questions by the Associated Press about the accusations made by Paxton's former staff. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who will act as judge during the impeachment trial, issued a sweeping gag order.
Paxton's defense attorney has not returned KRLD's request for comment.
As attorney general, Paxton is paid around $153,000 annually, a salary lower than many of his top aides. His wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, has worked as an educator and receives $7,200 for serving in the Texas Legislature, which meets for six months every two years.
The full extent of the couple's wealth is unknown. Their required financial disclosures offer a blurry picture. For instance, the most recent filings value their blind trust at "$47,220 or more" as reported by the AP.
The impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton is set to get underway Tuesday. The 20 articles filed by the Texas House include allegations of bribery and using his office to influence his own trial.
